towards White River. He passed several moons,' as a solítary rover, but eventually joined a party of white hunters; and by degrees, and through a concurrence of circumstances, he was at length reconciled to the idea of remaining among the Whites. He acquired a rudimental knowledge of the English language in a respectable school at Cape Girardeau, and subsequently prosecuted his studies, during the intervals between the trading seasons, so as to make the whole period of his education amount to about two years and a half. For some time after I entered school,' he tells us, I experienced great difficulty in learning the pronunciation and meaning of words; this, however, being once partially surmounted, my progress was easy, till I could read, so as to understand all the common school books that were placed in my hands. During the recess of my school employments, I seldom went any where without a book. I had access to some respectable libraries, and became literally infatuated with reading. My judgement was so much confused by the multiplicity of new ideas that crowded upon my undisciplined mind, that I hardly knew how to discriminate between truth and fable. This difficulty, however, wore off with the novelty, and I gradually recovered, with the explanatory assistance of my associates, the proper condition of mind to pursue my studies.' P. 129. We know not how far the volume is indebted for its literary respectability to the aforementioned Mr. Edward Clark; but it certainly bears the marks of extraordinary proficiency on the part of its Author, who left the Indians only in the spring of 1816, at which time he supposes himself to have been nineteen or twenty years of age. An ardent desire to become acquainted with some one of the learned professions, in concurrence with the advice of a venerable friend, to whom he appears to be indebted for his religious knowledge, induced him to take the step of journeying eastward as far as New York or Philadelphia, with a view to publish the history of his life, and such information as he possessed respecting the Indian nations west of the Mississippi. It was this friend, Mr. Wyatt, who had first explained to him the difference between the natural rights enjoyed by the Indians, and those which are essential to the harmonious preservation of religious society; and it was he, adds Mr. Hunter, who first satisfactorily unfolded to my benighted mind, the identity of the Great Spirit with the Creator of all things, and the Salvator of the human family. He also taught me rationally to unbend my selfish, evil propensities, and to gird on the armour of self-denial, charity, and truth, and to square my life by them, as acceptable offerings to the Great I AM.' In the Autumn of 1821, he crossed the Alleghany mountains, to commence, as it were, a new existence, unknown to a single human being,' he says, with whom I could claim kindred, except from common origin, and even indebted to ⚫ circumstances for a name.' But he speaks with gratitude of the kindness and respectful attention he has every where met with. That I may merit their continuance,' he says in conclusion, will be the high ambition and constant endeavour of my life.' The account of the Indian tribes which is appended to the Narrative, occupies the greater part of the volume; but we have no room left to enter upon its contents. The information it comprises, will be found extremely interesting, agreeing generally with the statements of Dr. Edwin James, but, of course, much more copious, minute, and characteristic. Some of the observations demand especially the attention of the American Missionary Societies, who have taken up, with laudable zeal, the cause of this much injured and neglected portion of our race. It is impossible not to take a warm interest in the future fortunes and character of Mr. Hunter; and we trust he may live to pay back, in substantial benefits to the Indian family, the debt of kindness he lies under to the friends and protectors of his childhood, his red brethren, and ours. Art. VIII. Fables for the Holy Alliance, Rhymes on the Road, &c. &c. By Thomas Brown, the Younger, Secretary of the Poco-curante Society, and Author of the Fudge Family, and the Two-penny Post Bag. f.cap. 8vo. pp. 198. Price 8s. 6d. London. 1823. THIS HIS is enough: the Author of the Fudge Family, and the Two-penny Post Bag,' says every thing that needs be said about the Book. Our readers will immediately know what to look for in these Fables and Rhymes; and we may as well proceed at once to our extracts, which must form, indeed, our apology for noticing a mere jest-book. We did intend to look very grave upon the levity, disloyalty, and other exceptionable features of the present merry and facetious publication. But what tender parent (we do not say schoolmaster) has never had his solemn pre-determination to administer chastisement to his offending subject, set aside by the irresistible archness or drollery of the young culprit? Besides, there are redeeming things in the volume; for instance, Fable III. THE TORCH OF LIBERTY. I saw it all in Fancy's glass- "Twas like a torch-race-such as they Of Greece perform'd, in ages gone, When the fleet youths, in long array, Pass'd the bright torch triumphant on, • I saw th' expectant nations stand, To catch the coming flame in turnI saw, from ready hand to hand, The clear, but struggling glory burn. And, oh, their joy, as it came near, 'Twas, in itself, a joy to seeWhile Fancy whisper'd in my ear, "That torch they pass is Liberty!? And each, as she receiv'd the flame, Lighted her altar with its ray, Then, smiling, to the next who came, Speeded it on its sparkling way. From ALBION first, whose antient shrine The splendid gift then GALLIA took, Next, SPAIN, so new was light to her, And shone, a beacon, in all eyes! • Who next receiv'd the flame? alas, Unworthy NAPLES shame of shames, That ever through such hands should pass That brightest of all earthly flames! Scarce had her fingers touch'd the torch, When, frighted by the sparks it shed, Nor waiting ev'n to feel the scorch, She dropp'd it to the earth-and fled. And fall'n it might have long remain❜d, And Fancy bid me mark where, o'er Who thus in song their voices blended : "Shine, shine for ever, glorious Flame, "From GREECE thy earliest splendour came, "Take, Freedom, take thy radiant round, "On which thy glories shall not burn!" pp. 17-21. The Extinguishers' deserves to be praised as much for the value of the moral, as for its wit. The Little Grand Lama,' we would advise all those readers to pass over, who are afraid of laughing at naughty things. The following is not quite unexceptionable, but we will venture it. When Royalty was young and bold, Ere, touch'd by Time, he had become- At least, a ci-devant jeune homme, One evening, on some wild pursuit, And took him in his vis-à-vis. This said Religion was a Friar, • « Í say”—quoth Royalty, who rather The friar consented-little knew What tricks the youth had in his head; Besides, was rather tempted too By a lac'd coat he got in stead. Away ran Royalty, slap-dash, Broke windows-shiver'd lamps to smash, And knock'd whole scores of watchmen down. • While nought could they, whose heads were broke, The gentleman who crack'd them, wore. . Meanwhile, the Friar, whose head was turn'd Dealt much in pompous oaths and curses. As work like this was unbefitting, And Royalty pack'd off to Bridewell. With this proviso-should they be In future, against such offences Religion ne'er to lend his cloak, Seeing what dreadful work it leads to; And Royalty to crack his joke, But not to crack poor people's heads too.' pp. 35-38. There are certainly many things which we could wish out of the volume. But it will have only the life of an ephemeron. The following is a very neatly turned epigram. A SPECULATION. Of all speculations the market holds forth, And then sell him at that which he sets on himself.' The volume is exorbitantly dear. |